Fire Department

Mission Statement

Our mission is to protect life and property due to fire, medical and environmental emergencies within the community through public education, code management, and incidental response.

Vision Statement

We, the members of Columbus Fire and Rescue Department, have a shared commitment to professionalism, teamwork, quality leadership, mutual respect, integrity, effective communication. and safety as we endeavor to fulfill our mission.

Values

For the Community

• We recognize that the community is the reason for our purpose.
• We value the faith and trust of the community, and continually work to deserve that confidence through our attitude, conduct, and accomplishments.
• Lives are more valuable than property.
• The safety of the public is of paramount importance.
• All members of the public are entitled to our best effort.

For the Department

• We strive for excellence in everything we do.
• Honesty, fairness, and integrity will not be compromised.
• We continually seek effectiveness, efficiency, and economy.
• Unity and teamwork are stressed as being to our mutual advantage as individuals and as an organization. Members are continually encouraged to improve themselves as individuals and employees.
• The free exchange of ideas is encouraged.
• We will provide professional and courteous service at all times.
• We are sensitive to changing community needs.

Fire Department History

The volunteer fire department of the 1880s and "Gay Nineties" in Columbus was a vital and exciting part of the life of the community. What it lacked in modern equipment, it made up in color, vigor, and social prestige. Representing a cross-section of the male population, both black and white, it included five companies: 

• Coal Cart
• Hercules Hook and Ladder Company
• Lurline
• Luxapalila
• Rough and Ready

The companies were all dedicated to extinguishing the frequent fires which threatened the beautiful hilltop town overlooking the Tombigbee River. There were much rivalry and competition among the companies, and each fire was the occasion of an exciting race and the laurels went to the company that was successful in throwing the first stream on the building.

Dedication of Teams

Today, Columbus Fire and Rescue, based at five stations and made up of 71 full-time men and women, is still dedicated to fighting fires as well as educating the public in fire prevention. Columbus Fire and Rescue specialty teams in:

• Dive and Rescue
• EMT-Basic
• Extrication
• Fire and Life Safety Education and Fire Code enforcement train over 12,000 documented hours yearly at the local stations, the Mississippi Fire Academy, the National Fire Academy, as well as other recognized outstanding training facilities across the nation
• Hazardous Materials
• Rope Rescue/Confined Space

Columbus Fire and Rescue is proud of the work and service it provides for the City of Columbus as they continue the excellent tradition of the first firefighters of the community of the past.

Fire & Rescue Strategic Plan

In March of 2014, Columbus Fire and Rescue became the first fire department in the state of Mississippi to become internationally accredited. At the time, there were only 170 departments out of 38,000 in the nation to achieve this goal. One of the department's benchmarks was to create a strategic plan to help guide the direction of the department over a 5-year period. In order to accomplish this, studies and surveys were completed both internally and externally with stakeholders. CFR learned about its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats based on what citizens, government officials, and employees indicated.

A Committee was put together and this strategic plan for Columbus Fire and Rescue was developed as part of the accreditation process. 

Dick's Sporting Goods Donation

On March 31st, 2022, Dick’s Sporting Goods chose to donate to the firefighters of Columbus Fire and Rescue a wonderful F-I-D Weight Bench.

Your generosity is much appreciated, as physical fitness is a cornerstone to our department’s mission of community hazard reduction. Our firefighters provide the citizens of Columbus, MS. and Lowndes County with superior customer service. These brave individuals don’t expect gratitude for every action rendered, but they are human in nature. The weight bench you gifted us will increase physical ability as well as self-esteem.

I commend you for your recognition of all the first responders of Columbus Fire and Rescue. On their behalf, I thank you. Please let me know if there is any way we can be of service to you.